10 Commandments of Resumes #4

Thou shalt customize your LinkedIn URL is today's commandment.

Nothing looks more professional and says I've got it together like a LinkedIn URL that has your name/business/trademark. While there are so many things about LinkedIn that a job seeker should know, that's a whole separate topic. Today, we're just focusing on your URL.

Instead of www.linkedin.com/in/andreacole23_242, I customized mine to www.linkedin.com/in/colecoach. So easy to do and so easy to remember.

Imagine you are out running errands one day. You don't go to the grocery store or lumber yard with a copy of your resume. Suddenly, when you least expect it, you run into a potential networking opportunity. Every possible thought runs through your brain about how to make a lasting impression on this person AND give them some information they can follow up on. Well, with a customized LinkedIn URL, you CAN quickly recall what yours and provide it. And, the best part of all is that it's quick and easy to do.

Here's how:

Log into your LinkedIn Profile and go to Edit mode.

You'll see your LinkedIn URL at the bottom of your header section with the little pen icon next to it.

Click on the pen icon and you'll be taken to Your Public Profile page.

On the right hand side, scroll down a bit and you'll see "Your public profile URL".

Simply click on the pen icon next to your URL and enter what you would like it to be. Typically people use their first and last name, like www.linkedin.com/in/andreacole.

When you click through, LinkedIn will alert you if this is already in use, as was the case with the previous attempt. You might then try last name, first name - www.linkedin.com/in/coleandrea. Again, that was taken.

Or add your middle initial - www.linkedin.com/in/andrealcole. Once again, taken. It's amazing how many Andrea Cole's are out there!

Or simply your first initial and last name - www.linkedin.com/in/acole. You guessed it, taken again. So I went with something that described my business. www.linkedin.com/in/colecoach. Voila! Done!

Keep trying until you find one that hasn't been claimed. It might take some creativity, but just be sure you use something you can easily recall and that is relatively easy for other people to interpret.

Save your new URL and you're done!

Remember to use this on your resume. I like to see it used at the top of the first page along with other contact information and again on page 2, just in case the two pages get separated. A potential employer will still be able to find you and read all your marvelous accomplishments!

That's it for today. Thanks for all the notes and comments on this series. My only hope is that you find it useful.

Tomorrow, I'll talk about those all important accomplishment stories! No more listing of responsibilities. I'll be talking about ACTION AND RESULTS.

Until tomorrow.....